Return to Everest 2009

May 9, 2009 - The winds picked up on schedule yesterday afternoon as the jet stream passed over the top of Mt. Everest, as forecasted. Today is also windy up high. The weather window on the 11th and 12th that we were shooting for has gotten smaller, bracketed by stronger winds both to the east and west, so most of the team members have opted to come back down and wait for a better weather window. [More at IMG]

Day 48/May 8, 2009 (Friday)

Clear skies greeted us in the morning, warmth hitting our tents around 08:30. Lots of Sherpa tea and time to pack for the summit: my oxygen mask, goggles and summit mittens would be carried for me to Camp III, while a small bag of food would head to Camp IV the following day. As the exhaustion from the day before began to wash away, my strength and focus for the upcoming 3 days to the summit solidified.

Day 47/May 7, 2009 (Thursday)

It’s hard to describe the excitement that wells within as you prepare for a summit bid on the highest mountain in the world. Years of dreaming, reading and training have led up to this moment in life, with a chance to overcome the lost summit of last year. I was up at precisely 01:51 --- not 01:50 or 01:52 --- and I tossed and turned thereafter. Clothing and gear on by 03:50, breakfast at 04:00, and on the trail to Crampon Point at 04:32.

Keith Cowing: If you've ever seen a Starfleet away team beaming down to a new planet, you know that the first thing they do is whip out their tricorder and scan everything. They then promptly tell their commander what sort of life forms, geology, atmosphere, etc. surrounds them.

I have always wanted a tricorder. So have many of NASA's astrobiologists.

Day 47/May 7, 2009 (Thursday)
Joy and Pain

It’s hard to describe the excitement that wells within as you prepare for a summit bid on the highest mountain in the world. Years of dreaming, reading and training have led up to this moment in life, with a chance to overcome the lost summit of last year. I was up at precisely 01:51 --- not 01:50 or 01:52 --- and I tossed and turned thereafter. Clothing and gear on by 03:50, breakfast at 04:00, and on the trail to Crampon Point at 04:32.

Image: Matt Green (Discovery) and Scott Parazynski chat a few minutes after Scott arrived back at IMG Base Camp.

Keith Cowing: Weather conditions atop Mt. Everest have become unacceptable for further ascent at this time. Scott and other climbers have descended from Camp II to Everest Base Camp. No word yet as to when the weather will clear such that another summit attempt can be made.